Bagging machine



July 14, 1953 c, SCHENK 2,645,395

I BAGGING MACHINE Filed March 8, 1950 12 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Tami; ad'chenfir BY r We 4M WM ATTORNEYS 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 wmw July 14, 1953- T. c. SC-HENK BAGGING MACHINE Filed March 8, 1950 INVENTOR Tami: C. Schenh: BY 0% Rm d M ATTORNEYS T. C, SCHENK BAGGING MACHINE July 14, 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Mal ch 8, 1950 INVENTOR famisdfickenit ATTORN EYS July '14, 1953 T. c. SCHENK 2,645,395

BAGGING MACHINE Filed March 8, 1950 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR am-,5 0. Jc'keni't BY FM ATTORNEYS m am a Q awn mm mm fi NFL MFR g R my w mmm Q g m A I H 4/ a M- F Hal-I. I 4 km hmw EH} mam m6 I Q mm Q mm o mam x mm o F 8 ma 0 8 Rm QM w Q Rm QR Q @Q Q c Q \m n \a o 0 @Q m O M 0\ w n n o {m M m TH I H T. C. SCHENK BAGGING MACHINE July 14, 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 8, 1950 INVENTOR zkzmfs'aclzenh' *M RNEYS y 4, 1953 "r. c. SCHENK 2,645,395

BAGGING MACHINE Filed March 8, 1950 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 \Tiqla. I b i TENS.

3 2 7 320 27 INVENTOR 350 gym-.5 a. Schenh' jaw ATTORNEYS July 14, 1953 T. c. SCHENK 2,645,395

BAGGING MACHINE Filed March 8, 1950 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 WET E115.

3-1 min". l 433' 6 INVENTOR zamzs C. Schenlt ATI'ORNEYS July 14, 1953 T. c. SCHENK 2,645,395

BAGGING MACHINE I Filed March 8, 1950 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 vfizz! /64 239 237 194 ATTORNEYS y 4, 1953 T. c. SCHENK 2,645,395

BAGGING MACHINE Filed March a, 1950 1a Sheets-Sheet 1o INVENTOR CCSchenh:

v ATTORNEYS 4, 1953 T. c. SCHENK 2,645,395

BAGGING MACHINE Filed March a, 1950.: lzsheets-sheet 11 INVENTOR July 14, 1953 T. c. SCHENK 2,645,395

BAGGING MACHINE Filed March 8, 1950 12 Shuts-Sheet 12 jib-p5. l-E 40.

INVENTOR ggmzls Chschenh' ATTORNEYS Patented July 14, 1953 BAGGING MACHINE Tamis C. Schenk, Richmond Hill, N. Y., assignor,

by mesne assignments, to FruitProducts Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 8, 1950, Serial No. 148,446

30 Claims.

This invention relates to a bagging machine for packaging confections and more particularly to a machine for bagging stick-held confections such, for example, as the common frozen confection on a stick.

As conducive to a clear understanding of the invention, it is to be noted that as the sale price of the frozen stick-held confection to the ultimate consumer is generally quite low, in the order of five or ten cents, unless the confections can be bagged at a relatively high rate of speed and with a minimum of handling, the cost of packaging is often disproportionate with respect to the cost of the material being packaged.

Where the bagging operation requires that the stick-holders which carry the frozen confections be manually opened and the confections manually removed therefrom to be inserted into individual bags, the operation, is extremely timeconsuming and expensive, and, therefore, as complete an automatic bagging operation as is possible is desired.

However, if there are any failures in such automatic operation which take any length of time to correct, the frozen confections will melt and hence must be discarded as they would not be saleable. 1 In addition, as such melting would cause dripping on the machine, this would necessitate time-consuming cleaning thereof before operations could again be resumed. Furthermore, when such bagging machine is part of an assembly line including the forming of the confection in brine tanks, the removal therefrom and coating of such confection, any interruption along the assembly line would hold up the other steps and hence, in addition to the frozen confections melting with the difficulties above pointed out, the operators at the various stations would be idle with resultant increase in cost of the confections.

Where the bagging machine is automatic in.

operation and has a considerable number of operating parts, unless such partsiare readily accessible and the machine can be easily disassembled for cleaning it is not likely to meet the rigid sanitary inspection laws which generally govern such food-handling machine and in addition, where the disassembly and reassembly of such machine takes considerable time, the resultant loss of output would result in an increase in the cost of the packaged article' It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide a bagging machine that is fully automatic in operation, will operate at a relatively high speed, is compact and rugged in i 1 construction, functions with a minimum number of operating parts, none of which is delicate or apt to become out of order, is capable of continuous operation for long periods without jamming or other malifunctioning and may readily and quickly be disassembled for cleaning and repair, and as quickly reassembled for use, and which machine will reliably and dependably open the stick-holders used therewith to release the confections held herein.

Where the confections, upon being released from the stick-holders are dropped with any appreciable force against a hard surface before being bagged, they are likely to be bruised or cracked and this is especially true when the con fections are coated such as with chocolate. And where the confections are slid along some supporting means during their movement through the bagging machine, the bottom of the confections are likely to be scraped and injured. In either case the resultant disfiguration of the prod not will render the latter unattractive in appearance and unsaleable.

It is accordingly another object of the invention to provide a machine that will bag the stick-held confections without likelihood of injury thereto as by rubbing or dropping thereof against the machine.

Where automatic means are provided to open the stick-holders, which require that the stickholders be in perfect condition in order that the openers operate properly, as the stick-holders are generally roughly handled even during normal use, such automatic opening means are likely to jam with resultant stoppage of the bagging machine and the consequent difficulties above described, or not open the stick-holders at all, with the result that the confections will be se curely retained in the stick-holder and will not be discharged for the bagging operation.

Where the stick-holder when presented to the automatic opener in reverse position, will jam the opening mechanism, in addition to there being a complete stoppage of the bagging operation, the working parts of the machine are likely to break.

It is accordingly still another object of the invention to provide a machine that will dependably open the stick-holder regardless of slight deformation thereof and that will not jam in the event the stick-holder is presented in reverse position to the machine.

Where the bags are retained in vertical position with their mouths directed upwardly to receive the confections to be dropped therein and the confections are not in vertical position when they reach the mouth of the bag, they will not enter the latter with the result that the confections will not be bagged.

It is accordingly still another object to retain the confections in vertical position as they are discharged into the bags without the need for elongated closed chutes in which the confections might jam during their passage therethrough.

It is also to be noted that in the initial forming of the stick-held confections in a mold, an umbrella or layer of frozen ice cream joining the tops of the confections is likely to result due to over-filling of the molds or tilting of the molds during the filling operation.

Where such umbrella is formed and interferes with the discharge of the confections from the machine, as the confections are extremely hard, they are likely to jam the machine and possibly break the latter.

Even if the connected confections do not jam the machine, if in order to prevent waste thereof, the machine must be stopped in order for the confections to be removed and individually bagged, the stoppage of the assembly line would have the detrimental results heretofore pointed out.

It is accordingly still another object to provide r a machine which will operate with-out jamming regardless of the formation of umbrellas on thestick-held confection and from which such confections with umbrellas thereon maybe removed without stoppage of the machine.

According to the invention the bagging machine includes means to advance the stick-holder to present the latter to a stick-holder opening mechanism for release of' the confections onto associated guide rails while still retaining the upper end of the sticks loosely supported in the stick-holder. A conveyer is associated with the guide rails and is positioned below the stickholder and moves in timed relation with the stick-holder advancing means so that the confections are retained in substantially a vertical position.

The conveyer is desirably constructed to advance the confections along the guide rails without sliding thereon, and when the confections reach the ends of the rails, 'to successively move the confections off such ends while still retaining them in substantially a. vertical position so that they will fall down a vertical discharge chute associated with the ends of the guide rails and into the previously opened mouth of a bag positioned beneath the discharge chute. The bag is so supported that it will remain inconfection receiving position until the confection falls therein and thereupon by reason of the weight of the confection will be released from its supporting means to drop with its contained confection onto a suitable conveyer.

More specifically the guide rails are so positioned that when the stick-holder is opened and the sticks released, the bottom edges of the confections will fall but a fraction of an inch therer by minimizing any danger of injury to the confection.

The conveyer desirably advances the confection without rubbing of the latter and to this end includes an elevator which lifts the confection after it has been dropped onto the guide rails, carries it a short distance and thereupon lowers the confection to again deposit it on the guide rails.

This intermittent forward movement of the lower end of the confectionis desirably timed with the movement of the stick-holder which also is intermittent so that the upper end of the stick will slide up and down in the stickholder while the confection is still retained in a vertical position.

By reason of the intermittent advance of the confection, when it is resting on the ends of the guide rails, the next forward motion of the conveyer will cause a finger carried thereby to push the confection forward. As the bottom edge of the confection will rest on the guide rails and the upper end of the stick is supported by the stick-holder, the confection will be retained in substantially vertical position until the finger pushes the lower edge thereof completely off the guide rails at which time it will drop, still in its substantially vertical position, down the discharge chute into the opened mouth of a bag.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention.

Fig. l is a perspective view of the bagging machine with parts broken away; 7

Fig. 2 is a'view similar to Fig. 1 of the bagging machine with parts removed therefrom;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. 1 with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken along line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig.'5 is a plan view taken along line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken along line 66 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the air conduit with parts broken away;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken along line 88 of Fig.7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the confection chute;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional View of the machine on a larger scale taken along line ll'0 of Fig.

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional detail view on a larger scale taken along line Il-l| of Fig.

Fig. 12 is a View similar to Fig. 11 taken along line l2l2 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view on a larger scale taken along line l3--l3 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional View on a larger scale taken along line l4l 4 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary detail view taken along line l5l5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken along line Iii-I6 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 17 is a transverse sectional view taken along line l'll l of Fig. 19;

Fig. 18 isa perspective view on a'larger scale of the lock pin release mechanism;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary plan view on a larger scale taken along line |9l 9 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 20 is a sectional detail view on a larger scale taken along line 20-20 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 21 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 2 I2l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 22 is a perspective view on a larger scale with parts broken away of a coupling member;

Fig. 23 is a' longitudinal sectional view on a larger scale, with parts broken away, taken along line 2323 of Fig. 5; r

Fig. 24 is a transverse sectional View taken along line 24-24 of Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is a sectional view taken along line 25 25 of Fig. 24; t

26 is a sectional detail view on a larger scale taken along line 2626 of Fig. 34;

Fig. 27 is a View similar to Fig. 26 taken along line 2I-2'I of Fig. 34;

Fig. 28 is a perspective View of, the blower motor mount and coupling; t

Fig. 29 is a perspective view of the blower motor;

Fig. 30 is a perspective view of the bag holder;

Fig. 31 is a sectional View taken along line 3 I- 3I of Fig. 30;

Figs. 32a, b, c and d are perspective views of the confection guide rails v Fig. 33 is a perspective view of the pusher bar;

Fig. 34 is a perspective view of the confection rack;

Fig. 35 is a perspective view of the rack ele vator;

Fig. 36 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 3Ii36 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 37 is a view similar to Fig. 36 taken along line 3'I3'l of Fig. 10;

Fig. 38 is a sectional view taken along line 38-38 of Fig. 35; t

Fig. 39 is a transverse sectional view on a larger scale taken along line 39--39 of Fig, 10;

Fig, 40 is a perspective view on a larger scale of a portion of the confection guide rail;

Fig. 41 is a side elevational view showing another embodiment of the stick-holder opener;

Fig. 42 is a plan view taken along line -42 of Fig. 41;

Fig. 43 is a view similar to Fig. 41 of still another embodiment of the stick-holder opener; and

Fig. 44. is a plan View taken along line 44-54 of Fig. 43.

In order that the construction of the bagging machine may be clearly understood, the general framework thereof will first be described and then under appropriate titles will be described the component structural parts of the preferred specific embodiment shown herein whereby automatic operation is. achieved.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the machine desirably comprises a horizontal frame preferably slidably mounted on the vertical portions of substantially L-shaped brackets 53 and 54, the upper ends of the vertical portions of which are joined together by a horizontal brace 69 to provide added strength. Each of the brackets has a semi-cylindrical portion 55, 56 respectively at the lower end thereof nesting against the upright standards 51 and 58 respectively, which support the machine and securely affixed thereto as by means of a clamp plate 59 afiixed to portions 55, 56 as by bolts BI.

The frame 51 is desirably mounted so as to move vertically with respect to said vertical portions. For this purpose, as shown in Fig. 5, one end 62 of the frame on the rear face thereof has a vertical rearwardly projecting tenon 63 preferably formed integral therewith and riding in a recess 64 formed by the forwardly projecting portion 65 of a vertical guide member 66 amxed by transverse bolts 61 to the inner face 68 of the vertical portion of bracket53.

Also formed integral with the frame 5I on the rear face thereof near the other end, is a second vertical rearwardly projecting tenon. 'lI riding in a recess I2 formed by the forwardly projecting portion I3 of a second vertical guide member l4 afiixed by transverse bolts 15 to the inner face vent transverse displacement of frame 5|, tenon 63. and projecting portion 65 desirably are dovetailed, and tenon II and projecting portion I3 have coacting lips TI.-

With the construction thus described, the frame may readily be vertically adjusted as by means of a vertical screw I9 threaded through a block 8| preferably formed integral with and extending laterally from clamp plate 59 of bracket 54. The lower end of the screw desirably has a handle 82 pivoted thereto as at 83 whereby upon rotation of said screw by said handle, the upper end of said screw will abut against the lower end of guide member 14 thereby to raise or lower the frame 5I as the case may be. r

The machine herein described may be used with any of the conventional type of stickholders now on the market, such as for example (a) the type opened by lifting up a handle that extends longitudinally of the stick holder (Fig; 16), (b) the type opened by pressing down on a handle that extends transversely of the stick holder (Fig. 41), or (c) the type opened by lifting up on a handle that extends transversely of the stick-holder (Fig. 43)

As such'stick-holders per se form no part of this invention, they will not be described in detail but only insofar as is necessary for a clear understanding of the invention.

All of said stick-holders which will be referred to by the letter S are formed with rows of apertures 84 (Fig. 16), to receive sticks indicated at 85 with means being provided controlled by a handle 86 for releasably clamping the sticks.

Stick-H older support To support the stick-holder s so that it may automatically be opened and the stick-held confections C discharged therefrom, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 13 and 16 of the drawings, a pair of spaced rails 89 and SI are desirably provided on which the sticl-holder may be slidably mounted.

The rails 89, 9|, each of which desirablycomprises a substantially L-shaped angle bar, are mounted in parallel horizontal relation near the upper ends of brackets 53 and 54. As is clearly shown in Fig. 2, rail 9| is a-flixed as at 92 to the vertical portions 93,94 of brackets 53, 54 respectively, and rail 89 is affixed as at to arms 95 and 91 depending from the horizontal cross pieces 98 and 99 of said brackets 53 and 54 respectively, a removable spacer collar IOI being provided between rail 89 and arms 95, 9? whereby the distance therebetween may be adjusted.

With the rails thus mounted, the horizontal portions I92 and I93 thereof will provide tracks for the laterally extending pins I94 (Fig. 13) rigidly aflixed to the handles I95 of the stickholders S.

It is to be noted that by reason of thepins I94 the stick-holder S will ride on the tracks I92; I93 in horizontal position, being restrained from lateral displacement by a plurality of pusher de-- vices I 96, adapted to. react against theside wall IIBTI of'the stick-holder S to urge the latter toward rail 9 I.

As shown in Figs. 13 and 16, the pusher devices I06 each desirably comprises a spring-urged plunger I 98 slidably mounted in a horizontal casing I99 afiixed by means of a vertical arm III to the rail 89. The free end of plunger Hi8 desirably has a roller II2 thereon adapted to engage side wall II)? of the stick-holder S as the latter is advancedalong tracks I02, I03 in the manner hereinafter to be described.

Stick-holder advancing mechanism Although any suitable propelling mechanism could be used to advance thestick-holder S along the horizontal tracks I02, I03, in a preferred embodiment herein shown and described, the stick-holder is intermittently advanced along the tracks, desirably by a horizontal, reciprocable pusher bar II5. Bar H is desirably positioned so as to extend parallel to the vertical portion of one of the rails, illu-stratively the vertical portion I I6 of rail 9 I and is slidably mounted on the upper edge I I1 of the said vertical portion I I6 by means of a plurality of substantially L-shaped brackets H8 and H9 (Figs. 4 and 14). As shown in Fig. 4, the horizontal portion I2I of bracket I I8 is affixed to the rear face of the pusher bar I I5 as by rivets I22 and as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the horizontal portion I23 of bracket H9 desirably has a shoulder portion I24 allixed against, the rear face of the pusher bar II5 by rivets I25.

The under surface I26 and I21 of the horizontal portions I2I and I23 of brackets H8 and H9 respectively, rest on the edge III of rail BI and the parts are so designed that the lower edge I28 of the pusher bar I I5 will be slightly spaced from the track I03.

As shown in Figs. 4, 14 and 15, the brackets H8 and H9 each has a vertical portion I29 and I3I respectively, which extends below the upper edge I I1 of rail 9I on the rear face thereof, thereby securely, yet slidably to mount the pusher bar on the rail.

It is to be noted that as the rail BI is preferably of stainless steel, in order to avoid excessive wear due to friction which would occur if the brackets IIB and IIS were also of steel, they are desirably made of brass and the lower edge I28 of the bar H5 at the front end thereof is beveled as at I30 (Figs. 1, 33) to permit the removal of such bar in the manner hereinafter described.

In order both to space the pusher bar I I5 from the vertical portion I I6 of rail 9| and to prevent transverse movement thereof, a plurality of inverted substantially U-shaped guides I34 are pro vided. As is clearly shown in Fig. 12, the vertical portions I35 of the guides I34 are affixed to the inner face of the vertical portion II6 of rail 9| by bolts I36 with the depending finger I31 of the guide extending over the front face of the pusher bar. Thus, the bar is restrained between the vertical portion I35 and the finger I31 which are sufficiently spaced to provide slight clearance to permit free sliding of the bar.

To advance the stick-holder when the pusher bar is reciprocated in the manner hereinafter described, a plurality of pawls I39 are desirably equally spaced along the length thereof. As is shown in Fig. 11, the pawls I36 each comprise a dog, preferably of steel, pivotally mounted on a pivot I4I aiiixed on the front face of the bar I I5.

In order to limit the movement of the pawls about their pivots I4I, each pawl has a socket I42 in the inner face thereof adjacent bar II5 into which extends a stop pin I43 affixed to the bar and of smaller diameter than such socket, so that the pawl may move about its pivot a distance substantially equal to the diameter of the socket, less the diameter of pin I43. It is to be noted that the pins I43 are so positioned that the lower edge I44 of the pawl will be slightly spaced from the track I03 when the pawls are in their lowermost position.

Each of the pawls I39 at the free end thereof, desirably has an arcuate notch I45 therein which will be horizontally aligned with adjacent pins I04 on the stick-holder when the pawls are in their lowermost position, so that upon advance of the pusher bar, the notched end of the pawl will engage the associated pin to advance the stickholder.

Confection conveyer mechanism Means are provided, associated with the stickholder supporting tracks I02, I03 to carry the lower end of the stick-held confections and to advance such confections in timed relation with the movement of the stick-holder on said tracks.

Such means desirably comprises a conveyor mounted on the horizontal frame 5| of the machine and desirably positioned beneath the tracks I92 and I03 and extending longitudinally thereof.

As shown in Fig. 2, the frame 5| near end I48 thereof has a pair of depending parallel spaced members I49 and I5I each of which has a forwardly extending arm I52 and I53 respectively, preferably formed integrally therewith, which arms are connected by a reinforcing bar I54 lying in a plane parallel to the frame 5 I.

Arms I52 and I53 which lie beneath rails 8 and 0|, and extend transversely thereacross, mount the conveyer mechanism which, as shown in Fig. 3, desirably comprises an elevator I55 carrying a rack I56 vertically reciprocated by said elevator.

As shown in Fig. 35, the elevator I55 desirably comprises a pair of bars I51 and I53, parallel along the major part of their length with one of said bars, illustratively bar I51 desirably being bent inwardly as at I53 with the free end of said inwardly bent end affixed to the inner face I6I of bar I53. The spaced ends I62 and I63 of said bars have afiixed thereto as by welding, a substantially cylindrical rod I64, end I65'of which extends beyond bar I58 and has a socket I66 therein (Fig. 38) in which is rotatably mounted the stud end I61 of a tubular member I68, said stud end being retained in said socket by a pin I69. As shown in Fig. 38, tubular member I68 has a ball seat I10 therein extending into a transverse bore I12 in such tubeQ-a ball I1I being retained on said seat by a coil spring I13 compressed between said ball and the closed end of a sleeve I14 which is threaded into the bore of such tube as at I15.

Elevator I55, on each of the outer faces of the parallel portions of the bars I51, I58, on the bent portion I16 thereof and on the end of bar I58 has bushings I11 affixed thereto, said bushings each having a bore therethrough all inclined at the same angle and extending in parallel planes.

The elevator I55, by means of said bushings I11 may be slidably positioned on inclined pins I18 (Figs. 2 and 3) rigidly mounted on arms I52 and I53 of the frame and on an outwardly extending arm I19 also formed integrally with the frame.

As shown in Fig. 35, the elevator I55 desirably has a pair of transverse braces I8! and I82 affixed to their ends to the associated bars I51 and I58 and mounting a guide strip I83 therebetween, centrally positioned between bars I51 and I58 and extending parallel thereto. Each of the bars I51, I58 also has at the upper edge thereof, an inwardly extending flange I84 which slidably retains the rack I56 thereon when the device is assembled.

As shown in Fig. 34, the rack desirably comprises a plurality of equally spaced bars, illustratively four in number and designated by the numerals I 85, I86, I 81 and I88, which are retained f One of the braces I89 desirably has an elongated block I91 affixed to and extending along the underface thereof, said block I9I having a lip I92 at each end thereof adapted to fit respectively under the flanges I84 of the elevator as shown in Fig. 36.

To prevent pivoting of the rack with respect .to the elevator, another of the braces I89 has a' yoke member I93 afiixed to the underface thereof and positioned so that the legs thereof straddle the central guide rail I83 of the elevator as shown in Fig. 37.

The bars of the rack I55, which are staggered in length with respect to each other, have a substantially cylindrical rod I94 afiixed as by welding to their transversely aligned ends I95. As shown in Figures 26 and 34, the end I96 of rod I94 extends beyond bar I89 and has a socket I91 therein in which is rotatably mounted the stud end i99 of a substantially L-shaped member I99, said stud end being retained in said socket by a pin 291 (see Fig. 27). The portion 292 of member I99 extending at right angles to the stud end I93 is tubular and has a ball seat 293 therein extending into a transverse bore 294, a ball 295 being retained on said seat by a coil spring 286 compressed between said ball and the closed end 291 of a sleeve 293 threaded into the bore of portion 292 as at 209.

Means are provided to actuate the conveyer mechanism and the pusher bar I i in timed relation so that both the rack I56 and the pusher bar II5 will be reciprocated at the same time and the rack I56'will be moved in substantially a rectangular path. Desirably such means comprises a motor M which, as shown in Fig. 5, is mounted to the rear of the frame 5I on a pair of spaced rearwardly projecting arms 2| I, rigid with and desirably formed integral with a housing 2I2 extending laterally from and desirably formed integrally with thelower end of the vertical portion of bracket 54. As is clearly shown in Figs. 5, 24 and 25, the motor M through reduction gear box 2I3 drives a shaft 2I4 extending into the housing 2I2, which shaft has a pinion 2I5 affixed thereon.

Pinion 2I5 meshes with a gear 2I6 rotatably mounted in said housing on a stud 2 I1 afiixed in the rear wall 2I8 of the housing as by a nut 2I9. Gear 2I6 desirably has a pair of pins HI and 222 rigid therewith and extending transversely therefrom. The head 223 of the pin 22I extends into an enlarged opening 224 in a rocker plate 225 pivotally mounted on the housing 2I2 at the lower edge thereof as by a stud 226. As shown in Figs. 24 and 25, the head 223 of pin 22I rides on the inner periphery or cam surface of the opening 224 in rocker plate 225 which is so conformed that upon rotation of gear 2I6 the cir-' cular' path of movement of the head 223 of pin 22I will cause the rocker plate 225 to oscillate back and forth. Pin 222 which extends through opening 224 in rocker plate 225 has its head 221 positioned in a groove 228 formed in the inner face of a second rocker plate 229, which. is also pivoted to the lower portion of the housing on i the same. stud 226 that mounts rocker plate 22 5,

10 and down in the groove 228 and hence oscillate rocker plate 229 back and forth. a

The rocker plates 225 and 229 which actuate the elevator I55 and rack I56 respectively, are

operatively connected thereto by suitable linkage.

Such linkage, as shown in Figs. 5, 23, 38, 39 and 40, desirably comprises a pair of connecting rods 233 and 234 pivotally mounted at one end as at 235 and 236-to the upper portion of rocker plates 225 and 229 respectively. Each of the connecting rods has a substantially L-shaped link 231 and 238 respectively threaded at one end into a suitable opening in the free ends 239 of the rods. With the vertical portions 24I of the links 231 and 238 positioned in the transverse bores I12, 294 of members I68 and I99, they are securely yet removablyretained in said bores by the coaction of the spring-urged balls HI and 285 with the annular grooves 242 in the periphery of the vertical portions of said links.

Means are desirably provided to guide connector rod 233 toprevent lateral displacement thereof. To this end an angle iron 243 (Fig. 5) is afiixed by screws 244 to the end wall 245 of the housing 2I2 to be retained in vertical position. A pair of flat plates 246 are affixed to angle iron 243 by nuts and bolts 241 and spaced from eachother by spacers 248 to straddle connector rod 233.

As isshown in Figs. 23 and 24, rocker plate 229 at the upper edge thereof has a pin 25I rigidly mounted in a pair of upstanding flanges 252, which pin is straddled by the notched end 253 of a connecting plate 254. As shown in Figs. 1 and 10, the upper edge of plate 254 is affixed as by nuts and bolts 255 to thecross-piece 256 of a substantially yoke-shaped link 251, the upper ends of the legs 258 and 259, which have openings 25I therethrough, preferably square: as shown, through which extends ahorizontal actuating bar 262 secured to said yoke as by set screws 233.

As shown in Figs. 1, l0 and 11, actuating bar 262 is slidably mounted beneath the track I93 of rail ill in bearing openings 264 in the horizontal portion 265 of bearings mounts 266, the vertical portions 261 of which are affixed to the outer face of the vertical portion I I6 of the rail as at 268.

. As shown in Figs. 10, 14 and 15, actuating bar 262 is operatively connected to pusher bar II5 by a pin 269 which extends through a bore 21I in the vertical portion. I3I of bracket I I9. The lower end 2120f the pin extends into the vertical bore 2 13 of a block 214 which has a horizontalbore 215 throughwhich the actuating bar 262 extends,-

the block 214 being afiixed t Confection guides In order to guide the confections as they are advanced in the manner hereinafter described, a plurality of guide rails are desirably provided, illustratively four in number designated by the numerals 21B, 219, 28I and 282 respectively.

Although the guide rails could be of any suitable construction, as shown in Figs. 13 and 32, they desirably are of stainless steel stock substantially triangular in cross-section.

The rails, as shown in Fig. 32, are of unequal length, and have pairs of equally spaced mounting pins 283 and 284 affixed to the base 265 thereof and depending therefrom. In addition to mounting pins 263 and 284 guide rails 28I and 282 also have an additional mounting pin 285' 11 and 28.6 respectively, affixed to their respective bases near the ends thereof.

Each of the mounting pins has a reduced nose end 28'! forming a shoulder 288, whereby when said nose ends 28'! are inserted into the openings 289 in arms I52, I53, and brackets I19 and 29L the latter also outwardly extending from the frame I (Fig. 1), as limited by the shoulders 288,, the guide rails will be retained in spaced parallel horizontal position at a desired height above arms I52, I53, extending longitudinally of frame 5I.

Means are provided securely yet removably to retain the guide rails on arms I52 and H3. Such means may comprise a latch 292 of resilient metal also afiixed to the base 285 of the guide rails and depending therefrom. Each of the latches has a hook end 293 adapted to snap under and engage a transverse rod 294 (Fig. 2) mounted at one end on reinforcing bar I54 and at the other end on the lower portion of bracket 54.

The guide rails are so positioned that as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the longest guide rail 282 is associated with the longest bar I88 and the shortest guide rail 218 is associated with the shortest bar I85 with opposed faces of pairs of said rails straddling bars I85 to I87 respectively of the rack, and with bar I88 of the rack straddled by face 295 of guide rail 282 and a longitudinal shoulder 296 desirably formed integral with frame 5|.

The face 295 of guide rail 282 which is associated with bar I88 has a laterally extending flange portion 298 (Fig. 5) rigid therewith which is substantially equal in length to shoulder 29.6,. The other face 299 (Figs. 5, 32) of rail 282 has a laterally extending flange portion 33H rigid therewith which is substantially equal in length to a laterally extending portion 382 on face 303 of guide rail 28I. The other face 394 of guide rail 28I has a laterally extending portion 33-5 rigid therewith which is substantially equal in length to a laterally extending portion 306 on face 301 of guide rail 21.9. The other face 303 of guide rail 219 has a laterally extending portion 309 rigid therewith which is substantially equal in length to the laterally extending portion 3H of face 3I2 of guide rail 218.

With the construction thus described, the laterally extending portions and the shoulder 296 will provide pairs of tracks, each pair of equal length respectively, upon which the bottom surface of the confection may rest as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 13, said rails and said shoulder 296 being so spaced that the top of said bars -I-85 to I88 and the spaced fingers 291 thereon may be raised therebetween by the elevator I55 in the manner hereinafter to be described.

Thus, as the confections are moved along the tracks therefor and reach the ends thereof they will be free to move horizontally therefrom to fall vertically int-o the bags carried in suitable hoppers which will now be described.

Bag holders '12 whichsthe lower lateral edge 3I9 of the bags I? Will rest.

The front portion 32I of each of said flanges 3II is of reduced width and extends in a straight rather than an arcuate line as at 322, as does the lower edge of the side walls 3I8 associated with the front portion 32I, and a stop member 323 is aifixed to the outlet 3I6 of the hopperrat the forward end of said flanges to retain the lateral corners 3I9 of the lower edges of the bags.

In order to mount the bag holder 3I4 to the frame 5I, .a plurality of bag holder supports (Fig. 2), illustratively four in number, designated by the numerals 324, 325, 326 and 321, are provided desirably integral with the frame 5I and positioned between end 62 thereof and arm I52 thereof, the supports preferably being equally spaced on such frame and depending therefrom. The supports are in stepped relation with support 324 which is adjacent arm I52 extending further outward from the frame 51 than support 321 which is adjacent the end 62 of said frame. As shown in Fig. 13, each of said supports has an inclined rear wall 328 which mounts a bag holder bracket 329 by means of screws 33I which extend through the cross-piece 332 of the bracket into rear wall 328.

The ends of the depending legs 333, 334 of the brackets are rearwardly bent at substantially right angles and are adapted to extend under the hooks 335 (Fig. 30) desirably struck out from the top wall 336 of the hopper securely yet detachably to mount the hopper 3 I4.

The hopper is so positioned as shown in Fig. 13 that the bags B at the outlet end 3I6 thereof will be in substantially a vertical position. In addition to the stops 323 which restrain the lower lateral edges 3I9 of the bags 13, means are provided to restrain the upper edges of the bags. Such means desirably comprises a finger 33'! (Fig. 13) adapted to engage the protruding upper portion 338 of the rear Wall 339 of the bag B, said finger having a bent end 34I whereby it may be affixed by screws 342 to the leg 333 of bracket 329. Desirably, leg 34I has a plurality of vertical slots 343 therein through which the shank of screw 342 extends to permit vertical adjustment of the finger.

Blower mechanism In order to open the paper bags B supported in the bag holders, so that they may receive the stick-held confection, a blower mechanism is provided.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 28 the mechanism desirably comprises a motor mount 344 which may comprise a plate 345 having a plurality of vertical slots 346 therethrough each with an enlarged opening'34'l at the bottom thereof of larger diameter than the heads of studs 348 (Fig. 2) which extendlaterally outward from the face 349 of end 62 of the frame. Thus, when the plate 345 is positioned against face 349 with the heads of studs 348 extending through enlarged openings 341 and the plate is thereupon moved downwardly, the motor mount will be securely yet removably retained against the frame.

The bottom portion of mount 344 has a chamber 35I (Figs. 21, 28) formed integrally therewith, desirably having a substantially frusto conical inlet connector 352 and a substantially rectangular outlet 353.

The blower motor M as shown in Fig. ,29 is afiixed as by screws 354 to a supporting bracket 355, and desirably has an outlet 355 with a looking conformation 35'! (Fig. 27) which coacts with a corresponding locking conformation 358 on a connector 359, whereby the latter may be mounted on the motor mount 344 as shown in Fig. 3, by means of the hook end 362 of the horizontal portion 363 of the bracket 355 which coacts with the upstanding flange 364 of the mount 344, the weight of the motor pivoting on flange 364 securely retaining connector 359 in inlet 352.

To provide a path for the flow of air from the blower motor M to the bags, a conduit 365 is provided, which as shown in Figs. 7 and 13, desirably comprises a substantially channel-shaped member 366 preferably cast from aluminum and desirably having a groove 351 in the opposed inner faces of the side walls 388 thereof into which a rear plate 359 may be slid to form a closed conduit.

'As shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the closed far end 3?! of the conduit has a forwardly projecting lip portion 3'12 adapted to be inserted in a corresponding recess 313 in-the sidewall 314 of arm 352. The inlet end of the conduit has an oblique portion 315 with a substantially rectangular opening are at the end thereof which may be aligned with outlet 353 of chamber 35! (Fig. 21).

14 through, which air from the conduitmay be directed. The chute 383 also includes a pair of side walls 335 and 49!,one of which, i. e., wall 45!, desirably has the leg 402 of a substantially U-shaped guide 453 affixed thereto, the depending leg 404 of said guide extending parallel to and space from rear wall 39L With the construction thus far described, the mouths M95 of the chutes will be aligned with associated pairs of confection guide rails respectively shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so that they are in position to receive the confections as they fall the ends of the associated pair of guide rails,

which confections will be guided by the chute faction will be guided by a guide lip 320 af- When in, this aligned position, the conduit 3G5 will be at an angle to the frame as shown in clashes in Fig. 5 and is securely retained in place by a dog 31'! pivoted to the motor mount 344. Dog 3?! when in looking position as shown in Fig. 21, coacts with the end 318 of the conduit to retain the shoulder 319 at the rear thereof against the rear edge of outlet opening 353.

As shown in Fig. '7, the conduit 355 on the front wall as! thereof has aplurality of spaced faces 332 desirably formedintegral with the wall 381 and at an angle with respect thereto, all of said faces lying in parallel planes. The angle of said faces 362 and the bent portion 315 of the conduit are so designed that with the conduit mounted at an angle on the frame as above described, the

faces 382 will lie in planes parallel to the frame 5!. As is clearly shown in Fig. 7, each of said faces 332 has a depending portion 383 with a recess therein (Fig. 8) which has a slot 385 at the upper portion therein extending through said face and leading into the conduit 365, said depending portions 383 each having a pair of vertical guide bosses 381' desirably formed integral therewith and straddling the associated recessed portion. 334. 1

A chute 333, shown in Figs. 9 and 13, is mounted on each of said faces 382 by means of a hook 359 affixed to the rear wall 39! thereof and engaging the upper edge 392 of the face 382 which desirably extends above thetop wall 393 of the to the bottom of the hopper onto a conveyer belt (Figs. 1 and 3), which as it is conventional and per se, forms no part of this invention will not be further described. It is to be noted that a substantially U-shaped guide M3 is provided straddling each of the hoppers 3l4 and extending laterally therefrom to prevent the bagged confection from moving outwardly as it discharged onto the oonveyer belt, so that the confection will lie in substantially parallel rows thereon.

Before the confections can be discharged into the bags, they must be released from the stickholders on which they are carried and to this end means are provided to open the stick-holders used with the machine.

The machine herein described which may be used with stick-holders such as (a) the type which are opened by lifting up a handle extending longitudinally of the stick-holder, (b) the type which are opened by pressing down on a handle that extends transversely of the stick-holders, or (c) the type which are opened by lifting up on a handle that extends transversely of the stick-holder, requires a different opening device for each of i said types of stickholder.

Opening device The opener device shown in Fig. 16 operates by having a portion thereof move transversely across the stick-holder to engagethe handle 85 thereof and pull it in an arcuate path in a clockwise direction as shown to separate the closed jaws (not shown) of the stick-holders.

tion thereof through which the bosses 381 on the the recess 384 in the faoe 382 with the lower edge 3 of said portion 395 aligned with the lower edge 39? of the depending portion 383 of said face, thereby to make an outlet nozale 3558 The opener desirably. comprises a substantially L-shaped cam. arm 4| I pivotally mounted on transverse rod 4l2 which is affixed to the vertical portion of bracket 54. Rod 412 extends through a hub formation M3 at the lower end of the cam arm, the latter being laterallyspaced from the verticalportion of the bracket 54 by the end 414 of the hub 3 adjacent said vertical portion. The hub 4l3 has a cam conformation 4l5desirably formed integral therewith and adapted to lie in the path of a roller 4I5 rotatably mounted between the spaced horizontal fingers 4|! (Figs.

Pivotally connected as at 4 l8 and 4 l 9 respectively to the side face of arm 4!! adjacent bracket 54 are the ends of sleeves 42! and 422. Sleeves 42! and 422 are encompassed by sleeves 423 and 424 respectively, with the outer ends of said sleeves 423 and 424 being pivotally mounted as at 425 and 426 to the vertical portion of bracket 54, the bores of the associated pairs of sleeves 42!, 423 and 422, 424 having tensed compression springs 42! and 426 therein respectively.

With the arrangement thus described, as shown in Fig. 16, spring 423 will normally bend to urge the cam arm 4! in a counterclockwise direction, the spring 428 which is under less tension than spring 423 aiding in such movement after the arm 4!! has moved past rod M2.

The upper portion'of cam arm 4!! has a laterally extending hub 429 integral therewith (Figs. 1 and 16), having its inner face 43! slightly spaced from bracket 54 and to which is pivoted, as at 432, a latch 433 having a hook 433' at the free end thereof. Means are provided normally to retain the latch in its forwardmost position (Fig. 16) with the lower edge 434 thereof abutting against a stop pin 435 extending laterally from the inner face 43! of the hub 429. To this end a plunger 436 is slidably mounted in a tube 431 desirably formed integral with the cam arm 4!], which plunger 436 is normally urged outwardly by means of a tensed coil spring 438 interposed between the closed end of tube 431 and the inner end of plunger 436, against a pro-' jecting lip 439 extending laterally from latch 433.

Means are provided to pivot latch 433 when the cam arm 4!! is moved in counterclockwise direction. To this end as shown in Fig. 16, a latch pivoting member 466 is pivotally mounted as at 466' on. upstanding flange 401 of the cross arm 99 of the bracket 54. Member 496 desirably comprises a substantially rectangular piece of metal, the pivotal movement of which is limited by a pair of spaced laterally extending pins 469 and 4!!! rigidly affixed to upstanding flange 461, the upper edge of said pivoted member desirably having an arcuate notch 460' therein to receive pin 41!).

Means are provided to retain the opener arm 4!! in retracted position as shown in Fig. 16. Such means, as shown in Fig. 20, desirably comprises a lock pin 44.! slidably mounted in the reduced portion 442 of the bore 443 of a sleeve 444 aflixed in a transverse bore 445 through the hub portion 429 of cam arm 4! I. head 446 adapted to seat on the shoulder 441 formed by such reduced portion and is normally retained on said shoulder by a tensed coil spring 448 positioned in sleeve 444., seated at one end against head 446Iand. normally retained in said sleeve by means of a plug 449 threaded as at 45! into the open protruding end, 452 of the sleeve. Thus, as shown in Fig. 20, the nose 453 of pin 44! will normally be positionedin the 'bore of a bushing 454 afiixed in a transverse bore 455 65 thereof from the bore of bushing 443 so that cam. arm -4 may be actuated, a release pin 45.6 is providedwslidably mounted in a bushing 451 also affixed in bore 455, which pin has a collar 456 afii-xed thereon .to limit the movement of such pin. The collar 458 is so positioned that when it abuts againstbushing 4.54, the nose end 459 of pin 456 which normally extends into the Pin 44! has a M 16 bore of bushing 454 will force pin 44! completely out of bushing 454 to unlockthe cam arm 4!! and when collar 458 is seated against bushing 451 the noses 453, 459 of both pins 44! and. 455 will be positioned in bushing 454 as shown in Fig. 20.

In order to actuate release pin 456 to move lock pin 44! out of bushing 454 against the tension of coil spring 443, the lock pin release mechanism shown in Figs. 17, 18 and 19 is provided. This mechanism desirably comprises a tube 46! rotatably mounted on an upstanding pin 462 afiixed at its lower end in guide member 14 as is clearly shown in Fig. 18. The upper end of the tube has a yoke 463 afiixed thereon, the legs of which, as shown in Fig. 18, straddle the end 464 of a release arm 465 which is pivotally mounted between said legs on a pin 466. Release arm 465 is normally retained in horizontal position by means'of a tensed coil spring 461 (Fig. 18) positioned in a socket 468 formed in the solid upper portion 469 of said tube, and compressed between the bottom of said socket 468 and the lower edge of said arm 465. As shown in Figs. 19 and 20, the nose end 41! of said arm is bent at right angles and the lower edge 412 of said arm from the nose thereof to the pivoted end is beveled to form a cam edge, the function of which will be hereinafter described.

To actuate the lock release mechanism (Fig. 19) an arm 413 is provided having a bore therethrough into which the lower end of tube 45! ex tends to mount the arm 413 idly thereon. Arm 413 has a yoke conformation 414 at the free end thereof between the legs of which a horizontal roller 415 is rotatably mounted as on a pin 416. Also mounted on tube 465 is a reaction member 411 which, as shown in Fig. 19, desirably comprises a split collar 418 encompassing tube 46! and rigidly clamped thereagainst by means of a screw 419 threaded through extensions 48! of said collar. Formed integrally with said collar is a lateral finger 462 against which abuts a plunger 485 (Fig. 17) slidably mounted in an oblique bore. 464 formed in the bracket 54 which plunger is normally retained against finger 462 by'means of a coil spring 465 positioned in said oblique here.

To key arm 413 to tube 46! so as to rotate therewith, the reaction member 411 desirably has depending projections 465 preferably formed integral therewith which extend into associated notches 461 in arm 413, whereby the arm 413, the tube 46! and the reaction member 411 will move simultaneously.

Assembly The bagging machine above described may readily be dissembled for cleaning and repair in but 'a few minutes without the need for any tools.

Although such disassembly may be performed in any one of several ways apparent to any skilled workman, the following procedure will be described by way of illustration.

The guide rails 218, 219, 26! and 262 may first be removed by disengaging the hook end 293 of latch arm 292 from transverse rod 294 and lifting the rails to remove the mounting pins from their respective sockets or openings 289 in arms I52, I53 and brackets [19 and 29!.

With the conveyer mechanism exposed by the removal of the guide rails, the rack 156 may be removed by withdrawing the resiliently held end 24.! of link 238 from bore 294 in member I99 and thereupon sliding the rack so that lips I92 of 

